The BSB Podcast

As a therapist, I can attest that sometimes laughter is the best healing medicine. Typically, we tend to release pain through tears, but when we can channel our grief into laughter, we get relief amid all the sadness. Dearly Departed explores the journey of grief in the Turpin family, who lose their patriarch at the show's beginning. However, this play also understands the importance of laughter,...

What would you do if someone offered you a potion that grants you eternal life? What price would you pay to remain young and youthful from now until forever? For many, that opportunity would be priceless, but as we know, all magic comes with strings attached, as Madeline and Helen learn in the new Broadway musical, Death Becomes Her! Based on the 1992 cult classic film starring Meryl Streep, Goldi...

It's never an easy decision to decide when and how to bring a baby into the world, especially when the world feels like it's falling apart around you. With the changing global landscape constantly in flux, there is never a perfect time to take the plunge and have a child. That pressure has to feel insurmountable at times, and is at the center of Tipping Point Theatre's latest production, Lungs, wh...

We've all heard the story of Harold Hill before, right? A charming, young con man who travels across America from one small town to another, creating unnecessary panic in hopes of stealing everyone's money. Classic Harold, giving false promises of bringing music to citizens through a marching band, and disappearing into the night with their hard-earned cash. However, as audiences discover in Mered...

There's that saying that history repeats itself, which seems to be one of the only constants in life. Trends fade, only to return decades later, reminding us that everything in life is cyclical. Both the good and the bad find their way back as the tides of life change over and over, whether we like it or not. That's what makes shows such as Perfect Arrangement so crucial to the theatre landscape,...

Audra McDonald is a Broadway Legend in every sense of the title, from her incredible acting to even more impressive singing. So when we heard that she was starring in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Gypsy, we knew that we had to see it in person on our next trip to New York City. This classic musical based on the story of real life burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee debuted back in 1959 and has conti...

There's something timeless about the works of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin, collectively known as The Rat Pack. All stars in their own right, these men, amongst others, shared the silver screen and the stages of Vegas together. Even though they reached their height almost three-quarters of a century ago, their films and music are still enjoyed by so many, reaching immortality th...

Hello! Do you have a minute to talk about our lord and savior, The Book of Mormon? No, not the actual book, but the wildly successful Broadway musical that has been a staple in the New York theatre scene since 2011! The Book of Mormon continues to delight audiences of all walks of life, with a satirical look at the power of religion and the community that stems from it. The national touring produc...

It feels like Broadway is rediscovering the incredible work of Stephen Sondheim over the past few years, as one musical after another finds a home in New York City once again. From the gender-swapped Company and the more recent revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sondheim's easily identifiable music and lyrics are being experienced by a new generation of theater lovers. This...

The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Book of Mormon arrived on Detroit's doorstep last week, ringing the bell of The Fisher Theatre, hoping to spread the word of how incredible this show is. There's truly nothing like this comedy on there, as The Book of Mormon explores the power of community and relationships through unbelievable satire from the minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the cre...

Growing older is just an aspect of life that everyone has to come to terms with; however, growing up is something entirely different. Maturity can come with age, but other factors force adolescents to grow up faster than they should have to, trading their innocence for the reality of whatever situation they're living through. We see this all too often today with the state of the world, and it's a...

What would you do if you were face to face with your mortality? It's an interesting concept that most don't like to think about, as facing the possibility of your death is terrifying. However, if you're anything like Kimberly Levaco, you will squeeze as much joy as possible out of whatever time is left on this Earth. In the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo, audiences follow the story of...

Stephen Sondheim is a household name for theater nerds like us, giving audiences some of Broadway's most recognizable and prolific pieces. Works, such as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Company, Gypsy, Sunset Blouvard, have stood the test of time, returning to Broadway many times over for audiences to enjoy. However, it's an earlier piece in Sondheim's collection, although still we...

Friends, family, community —in whatever form it comes—is one of the most important things a person can develop in their life. It is having a group of people who are there for you through thick and thin, giving their unconditional support regardless of your choices. The sisterhood that sits at the center of Birmingham Village Players' production of Steel Magnolias is a bond that can't be broken, al...

When the global pandemic hit just a few years ago, the world came to a standstill. Everything stopped, leaving people frozen in place through necessity and fear. Broadway was no exception, with theaters closing and remaining empty month after month. When society began to open again, people flocked to the theater, welcomed by fan-favorite shows and newcomers, such as the newest kid on the block, Ki...

Friendship is one of the most important bonds we can form throughout our lives. Whether we find our people at a young age or not until later in life, it's the family we develop along the way that provides so many of us with the strength we need to face difficulties. This bond is front and center in Vanities the Musical, which is making its Michigan Premiere at Meadow Brook Theatre! Before its prev...

Our time in Bikini Bottom is almost over, as the Bloomfield Players are in the closing weekend of their production of The Spongebob Musical. As the saying goes, don't be sad that it's over, smile because it happened! It's difficult not to smile profusely when you see a musical such as this one, as it's brimming with laughter, hope, and good vibes...even if there is impending doom looming over Spon...

Some things that might seem incredibly mundane are truly religious experiences. For some, it's taking that first sip of their morning coffee, letting it walk over them, melting away every worry. For others, it's a long drive on a nice summer day, blaring their music and letting the sun shine on their skin. However, for others, it's the act of gathering together with their community, gaining peace...

For as long as the cartoon has been around, Patrick Star has been Spongebob's best friend. They are inseparable in almost every aspect of their lives, staying besties through thick and thin (well, give or take a few episodes). So it only makes sense that when Bikini Bottom is under fire (literally) from the impending explosion of Mount Humongous, Patrick will be by Spongebob's side to save the day...

While Parade might have left Detroit and moved on with its North American tour, this musical's impact will live in our minds forever. This timely story about the conviction and unjust murder of Leo Frank couldn't have come at a better time, as injustices in our country are becoming increasingly more apparent. It serves of a reminder of the treatment of others not that long ago in American history...

Sandy the squirrel is truly a fish out of water in the world of Spongebob and the rest of his aquatic friends. A mammal from the warm land of Texas, Sandy ends up in Bikini Bottom, living in a space suit to protect her from drowning as well as the crushing pressure of the water. In the cartoon, she's built herself a beautiful life and seems relatively accepted by those around her. However, as we'v...

Broadway in Detroit has been a staple of the southwest Michigan theater community for decades, bringing the best touring Broadway shows to The Fisher Theatre and The Detroit Opera House. While we're still working our way through the current season, with shows such as The Book of Mormon and The Wiz still upcoming, those behind the scenes always think about the future and the next series of shows to...

The show must go on, no matter what...At least that's what must be going on in Pearl's head throughout the course of The Spongebob Musical. Set against the backdrop of impending disaster, this musical sees the star in the making, Mr. Krab's cheerleader daughter, decide to save Bikini Bottom from the exploding Mount Humongous in the only way possible. A Benefit concert of course! And so begins her...

The Ringwald Theatre over in Ferndale, MI, has never shied away from the stories they tell, and their latest show, Cock, is no exception. An intimate look into sexuality and how attraction and love change over time, Cock shines a light on relationships of all kinds and how complicated they can be. Director Joe Bailey has created something special for The Ringwald, as this show is something unlike...

It’s not every day that something from our childhood crosses over with our passion of Broadway, but every once in a while we find a show that mixes those two things together, creating a special night out at the theater. Those over at the Bloomfield Players Community Theater are looking to do just that with their upcoming production of Spongebob the Musical! Ahead of its opening night at the local...